Combination lock



A. L. ABBOTT ET AL April 24, 1934.

' COMBINATION LOCK Filed Oct. 9, 1930 3 SheetsSheet 1 gwuentom ALAbbofi L! 15. 11/1716! i' yz mxywiygg April 24, 1934. A. ABBOTT ET AL COMBINATION LOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9, 1930 b w w m w c2 w 2 a Q o w w o mi M A 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 amwar April 24, 1934. A. ABBOTT ET AL COMBINATION LOCK FiledOct. 9, 1950 aw M Fig.9

Patented Apr. 24, l34

om'rso STATES PATENT QFFICE COMBINATION LOCK Application October 9, 1930, Serial No. 487,492

3 Claims. (Cl. '7053) Our invention relates to combination locks constructed and arranged for permitting changing of the combination of the lock.

The dial rotates within the dial ring, and a vertically extending arrow is formed or inscribed on the dial ring above the knob, whereby the lock may be operated by proper partial rotations of the dial with respect to the arrow as is indicated by the dial division lines and according to the particular combination for which the lock is set.-

Within the case of the usual combination lock, one or more tumbler wheels are rotatably mounted on a tube which may be cast integral with the case, and through which the spindle extends.

A pin on the spindle drives the next adjacent wheel by abutment of the pin with a lug on the wheel, either directly or through a lever pivoted on the tube, and each succeeding wheel is similarly driven by the next preceding wheel.

For permitting changing of the combination of the lock, each wheel may include a pair of outer ring disk members within the bores of which a hub or center is rotatably mounted and the drive pin is located on one side of the center and the driven lug is located on the other side; and the center is releasably engaged with the disks by means controlled by a shaft or eccentric rotatably mounted in the disks, and the disks and the center may be released and engaged through a lever pivotally mounted between the disks and having teeth formed thereon for engaging and disengaging with teeth on the periphery of the center, the lever being operated by reverse rotations of the eccentric.

The eccentric is rotated by means of a key, and for permitting simultaneous rotation of a plurality of eccentrics, a key aperture is formed in each eccentric which may be polygonal in crosssection; so that a plurality of the polygonal key apertures when alined with each other may simultaneously receive a longitudinal key having a uniform polygonal cross-section.

The usual combination, lock furthermore includes a bolt mounted in the case for movement to and from locking or bolting position through means operable by the spindle only after the tumbler wheels have been rotated to certain positions relative to each other as determined by the particular combination for which the lock is set.

Usually the disks of each wheel have outwardly opening registering notches formed therein, and which must be alined with the notches of all the other wheel disks, before the bolt moving means may be operated.

Many forms of bolt moving means are in use which are operable by rotation of the spindle only after the tumbler wheels have been rotated to the proper positions.

All bolt moving means are arranged for normally being in operable connection with the spindle when the wheel disks have been rotated to their respective positions as determined by a particular combination.

On the other hand in order to change the combination of such a lock, it is necessary to maintain the wheel disks in their proper unlocking positions with respect to each other, and to change the relative position of each wheel center with respect to its disk, which is effected by reverse rotations of the spindle.

When the wheel disks are in unlocking position, the normal operable connection between the spindle and the bolt moving means results in an unlocking movement of the bolt by an unlocking rotation of the spindle, and when the bolt has been moved to its extreme retracted or unlocking position, further rotation of the spindle in the unlocking direction is not possible.

Inasmuch as the unlocking movement of the spindle requires only a comparatively small iraction of a complete rotation thereof, it is impossible when changing a combination to utilize the full number of division of the dial for any wheel center which must be set by rotation of the spindle in the unlocking direction, without maintaining the bolt moving means out of operable connection with the spindle during the combination changing rotations of the spindle.

Some combination locks have included separate means for moving and maintaining the bolt moving means out of operable connection with the spindle to permit complete rotation of the spindle in either direction while changing the combination as aforesaid.

Locks employing separate means for maintainattained when the wheels have been set with respect to the arrow.

In the case of locks utilizing a separate combination changing mark on the dial ring, confusion frequently arises in changing the combination, which may disturb the proper relationships of the parts of the look within the case, and require that the lock be taken apart for being again placed in operative condition.

The objects of the present invention include the provision of a combination lock in which the combination may be changed, and in which the combination setting arrow is utilized for changing the combination, and in which rotation of the several wheel eccentrics by the combination changing key serves to automatically move and maintain the bolt moving means out of; operable connection with the spindle, whereby the lock may be very economically produced.

These and other objects are attained by the apparatus, parts, improvements, and combinations, which comprise the present invention and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in detail hereinafter, and. are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the improved combination lock looking towards the rear face of a door on which the lock is mounted, the cover plate of the lock being removed, and parts of the lock being broken away and illustrated in section;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary elevation view looking towards the front face of the door,. and illustrating the dial and knob, and dial ring with the single arrow inscribed on the dial ring, the single arrow being used both for setting the combination and for changing the combination.

Fig. 3, a view illustrating a preferred improved combination changing key for use in changing the combination of the lock;

Fig. 4, a fragmentary oblique perspective view of the lock looking towards the rear face of the door on which the lock is mounted, and illustrating the parts of the look, just after the combination changing key has been inserted, and before rotation of the key to release the wheel centers from the wheel disks and to move the bolt moving means out of operable connection with the spindle;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary oblique perspective view, similar to Fig. 4, illustrating the several parts of the lock after the combination changing key has been rotated and has released the wheel centers from the wheel disks and has simultaneously moved the bolt moving means from operable connection with the spindle and out of engagement with the wheel disks;

Fig. 6, a detached elevation view of the lug side of one of the wheels;

Fig '7, a detached elevation view of the pin side thereof;

Fig. 8, a View, similar to Fig. 4, illustrating a second embodiment of the lock; and

Fig. 9, another view, similar to Fig. 5, of the second embodiment of the lock.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The preferred embodiment of the improved lock is indicated generally at 10 in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, and includes a case 11 which is mounted on the inner face 12 of a door 13 or the like, which may be the door of a safe, and the lock may be used for stopping boltwork, not shown, in a usual manner.

The case 11 includes a tube 14 extending from the base wall 15 of the case, and the base wall is abutted against the inner face 12 of the door 13.

The bore of the tube 14 communicates with a registering aperture formed in the base or front wall 15 of the case, and with an aperture formed in the door 13, and an operating spindle 16 is journalled. in the tube 14 and extends through the apertures of the base wall 15 and door 13.

A dial ring 17 is secured upon the front face 18 of the door 13, and the spindle 16 also extends through an aperture formed in the dial ring, and a knob 19 and dial 28 are secured upon the outer end of the operating spindle 16.

The dial may have inscribed thereon 100 equally spaced division lines, each tenth division line of which is numbered successively from 10 to 100.

A single preferably vertically extending mark or arrow 21 is formed or inscribed on the dial ring above the knob, and in the improved lock the mark 21 is utilized in conjunction with rotation of the dial 20 both for operating the combination, and for changing the combination, by reason of the improvements of the several mechanisms of the look as hereinafter set forth.

Within the case 12 of the lock, tumbler wheels 22, 22, and. 22" are journalled on the tube 14 between the base wall 15 and a cam 23, the cam being removably secured upon the extremity of the spindle 16 within the case, as by means of cooperating screw threads on the cam and spindle and a key 24 interposed in keyways formed in the cam and spindle.

As viewed in Fig. 1 the outermost wheel 22 is driven by a pin 25 mounted on the spindle, preferably on the inner face of the cam 23 which is secured as aforesaid on the spindle.

The drive from the pin 25 to the outermost wheel 22 is preferably attained by interposing a lever 26 journalled on the tube 14, and a washer 27 may be interposed between the lever 26 and the cam 23; and opposite sides of the outer end of the lever 26 are movable into abutment against opposite ends of a segmental lug or flange 29 formed on the wheel hub or center 28. That is to say, one side of the cam pin 25 is moved byrotation. of the spindle 16 in abutment against one side of the lever 26 and the lever 26 is then moved by further rotation in a clock-wise direction (Fig. 1) of the spindle so that its other side abuts against one end of the segmental flange 29.

A pin 30 on the other side of the wheel center 28 carries the drive from the outermost wheel 22 to the next succeeding wheel 22 in a similar manner, and similarly the drive is carried from the wheel 22 to the third wheel 22".

Each of the wheels 22, 22', and 22" are preferably identical in construction, and the wheel 22 will be described in detail.

For permitting changing of the combination lock, the wheel 22 includes a pair of outer ring disk members 22a and 221) which are spaced from each other, in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the spindle 14 as by means of pillars 22c; and the disks are also secured to the ends of the pillars.

Within the bores of the ring disk members, the hub or center 28 is, rotatablymounted, and the center 28 is releasably engaged. with the disks by means controlled preferably by a shaft 22d 5 j'ournalled in the disks and having an eccentric 225 formed thereon between the disks.

The periphery of the eccentric 22c slides against an inner face of onearm 22 of a lever 22g which is journalled on one of the pillars 22c; and the lever 229 includes another arm 22h extending from the opposite side of the journalling pillar. Teeth 22k are formed on the lever arm 22h for engaging and disengaging with teeth 22m formed on the outer periphery of the center 28.

The teeth of the lever are normally main tained in engagement with the teeth on the periphery of the center by positioning the eccentric as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The eccentric is rotated by means of the improved key 31 which may be inserted into the case through a key hole 32 formed in the cover plate 33 of the case in registering alinement with the alined eccentrics on all the wheels.

The outer longitudinal shank 31a of the key has a polygonal cross-section for fitting in an aperture 22p formed in the eccentric shaft 22d and extending parallel with the axis of the spindle 14, whereby the polygonal key apertures of all the wheels may be alined with each other for simultaneously receiving the longitudinal end shank 31a of the key 31 having a uniform polygonal cross-section as aforesaid.

The lock 10 furthermore includes a bolt 35 mounted in suitable ways 36a and 36b formed in the case 11, for movement to and from the extended looking or bolting position illustrated in Fig. 1.

Movement of the bolt to and from locking or bolting position may only be made after the tumbler wheels have been rotated to certain po sitions relative to each other as determined by the particular combination for which the lock is set. That is to say the combination is determined by the relative location of each wheel center with respect to its outer disks, and the disks of each wheel have outwardly opening registering notches 37 formed therein which must be alined with the notches of all the other wheel disks for permitting movement of the bolt 35.

The bolt moving means permitted to be operated when the notches 37 of the wheels have been alined with each other as illustrated in Fig. 1, include an operating lever 38 which is pivotally mounted on the bolt 35 as by means of a pivot screw 39. The lever 38 includes an operating arm 380:. extending upwards from the pivot screw 39 and above the cam 23, as viewed in Fig. 1.

The operating arm 38:]. has formed thereon a cam follower tongue 381) which extends from the arm 38a towards the axis of the spindle shaft and in the plane of the cam 23, and the cam 23 has a lever operating notch 23a, formed therein which cooperates with the follower tongue 38b for moving the bolt arm and bolt when the tongue is permitted to be inserted into the cam notch 23a.

A spring 10 normally presses the lever arm 38a towards the cam, and a stop arm 386 extends from the inside face of the lever arm 33a crosswise of the wheels.

Movement of the lever arm 38a into operable connection with the cam 23 is only possible when the stop arm 38a extends above the alined notches as viewed in Fig. l, which illustrates the position of the parts of the look after the combination has been set and the bolt is about to be retracted by rotation of the spindle counter-clockwise as illustrated.

The lever arm 38a is thus normally maintained in operable connection with the cam 23 when the wheel disks have been rotated to their proper unlocking positions with respect to each other.

In order to change the combination of the lock it is necessary to maintain the wheel disks in their proper unlocking positions with respect to each other, and to change the relative position of each wheel center with respect to its disk, by reverse rotations of the spindle, controlled by the arrow or marker 21.

W hen the wheel disks are in the unlocking position illustrated in Fig. l, the normal operable connection between the spindle and the bolt mov ing lever arm 38a, results in an unlocking move ment of the bolt 35 by unlocking rotation of the spindle; and when the bolt has been moved to its extreme retracted or unlocking position, further rotation of the spindle in the unlocking direction is not possible because the tongue 38?) cannot be permitted to normally move out of engagement with the cam notch 23a in order that looking movement of the bolt may be effected by reverse rotation of the spindle.

Inasmuch as the unlocking movement of the spindle requires only a comparatively small fraction of a complete rotation thereof, when changing the combination in order to utilize the full number of divisions on the dial for any wheel center which must be set by rotation of the spindle in the unlocking direction the bolt moving lever must be moved and maintained out of operable connection with the cam and spindle during the combination changing rotations of the spindle.

For this purpose the lever 38a is provided with a downwardly extending elevating arm 38d which terminates in a tongue 386 which is positioned for being engaged by a wing 31b extending radially outwardly from the shaft of the key 31 intermediate the polygonal shank 31a and the handle 31c for the key.

Changing the combination of the improved lock is effected by inserting the key 31 in the hole 32 after the lock parts have been set to the positions illustrated, permitting movement of the bolt.

The polygonal shank of the key extends through the apertures of the alined eccentrics, and the key is rotated counter-clockwise, whereby the wheel centers are released from engagement with the wheel disks, and the wing 31b of the key is simultaneously rotated against the tongue 386 of the elevating arm 33d and raises the lever 38 to the position illustrated in Fig. 5 out of operable connection with the cam 23.

The key remains in the position illustrated in Fig. 5 while the combination is changed in the usual manner by reverse rotations of the spindle by means of the knob 19 utilizing the arrow 21 as the marker for setting the new combination.

The key is then turned in the reverse direction, reengaging the wheel centers and the disks, and is withdrawn, after which the lock may be operated in the usual manner by rotations of the spindle according to the new combination.

The second embodiment of the improved lock indicated generally at 110 in Figs. 8 and 9, differs from the embodiment 10, in that the lock 110 includes an elevating arm 138d which is pivotally connected with the lever 13811, as distinguished from the integral formation of the elevating arm 3811 with the lever 38a in the lock 10.

A spring 140 is interposed between the arm 138d and a stop 141 on the case 112 for normally urging the arm 138a downwards, and the operation of the lock 110 is substantially the same as the operation of the lock 10.

I claim:

1. A combination lock comprising combination means including members releasably engaged with each other, said members being key-controlled, means operating the combination means, a bolt, and bolt moving means carried by the bolt and movable into operable connection with the combination operating means at predetermined relative positions of the combination operating means and the combination means, said bolt moving means being directly engageable by said key and being adapted. to be moved out of operable connection with the combination operating means when the key is utilized to release the combination members.

2. A combination lock comprising combination means including members releasably engaged with each other, said members being key-controlled, means for operating the combination means, a bolt, and bolt-moving means including a two-armed lever pivoted to said bolt, one of said arms being movable into operable connection with the combination operating means at predetermined relative positions of the combination operating means and combination means, the other arm positioned to be engaged by said key to maintain the lever out of connection with said combination operating means when the key is employed to release the combination members.

3. A combination lock comprising combination means including tumbler wheels, each comprising a pair of annular discs releasably mounted on hubs, an eccentric shaft journaled within the discs and adapted todisengage said discs, a key controlling said shaft, means for operating the combination means, a bolt, and boltmoving means including a two-armed lever pivoted to said bolt, one of said arms being movable into operable connection with the combination operating means at predetermined relative positions of the combination operating means and combination means, the other arm positioned to be engaged by said key to maintain the lever out of connection With said combination operating means when the key is employed to release the combination members.

' ALBERJIL. ABBOTT.

CHARLES H. MILLER. 

